Rochdale made it five wins from five in pre-season with a 3-1 victory over Tranmere Rovers at Prenton Park.

Callum Camps fired Dale into the lead just after the half hour mark, curling in from the edge of the area, before Bradden Inman doubled the lead three minutes before half-time.

Aaron Wilbraham converted a penalty midway through the second period after Andy Cannon had been brought to ground, whilst the hosts grabbed a consolation goal through Harvey Gilmour.

Aaron Wilbraham and Ben Tollitt exchanged efforts which were both held by the respective goalkeepers inside the opening three minutes, before Ian Henderson’s overhead kick also found its way into the arms of Shamal George.

Henderson had two further chances to break the deadlock inside the first half an hour. He nodded a Joe Rafferty cross down and wide at the near post from six-yards out, before placing another chance wide from close range after Inman’s ball across the six-yard area.

The home side created half-chances during the opening period, as Zoumana Bakayogo and Jay Harris both fired off target from range, before Ben Tollitt was denied by a brave block from MJ Williams and Connor Jennings fired straight into the arms of Lillis.

Dale opened the scoring just after the half hour mark, when Inman’s touch inside the area fell for Camps on the edge, who won a 50-50 challenge before firing home from 18-yards.

Keith Hill’s men doubled their advantage 11 minutes later, after strong pressing forced a mistake in the Tranmere defence. Wibraham picked up on a loose back pass and squared for Inman, who finished first-time from close range.

The home side made a bright start to the second-half, as Smith and Jennings both fired off target either side of a brief stoppage in play to escape the hailstones at Prenton Park.

Inman forced the Tranmere goalkeeper into a comfortable save shortly before he and Henderson were replaced by Andy Cannon and Ollie Rathbone, and less than a minute after being introduced, Cannon won Dale a penalty when he was brought down latching onto a Camps through ball.

Wilbraham stepped up, and dispatched clinically into the roof of the net, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way.

The hosts created a few chances to pull a goal back inside the final ten minutes. James Norwood had an effort comfortably held by Lillis, before Mark Ellis and Gilmour headed over from close range.

Gilmour did grab a consolation from Tranmere, with a clinical finish from Zoumana Bakayogo’s pull back eight minutes from time.

Lillis held onto a looping header from the host’s A Trialist, before claiming a low drive across the area from Manny Monthe.

The Dale stopper then acrobatically tipped over a Paul Mullin header which had taken a deflection off Harrison McGahey.

Larnell Cole fired wide from the edge of the area with the last kick of the game, as Dale’s 100% record in pre-season continued.

Dale XI | Lillis, McGahey, MJ Williams, McNulty (Jordan Williams 78’), Rafferty, Camps, Perkins (Morley 78’), Done (Ntlhe 51’), Inman (Rathbone 66’), Henderson (Cannon 66’), Wilbraham (Adshead 74’).

Subs | Moore, Wade, Ntlhe, Rathbone, Thompson, Jordan Williams, Adshead, Cannon, Morley, Gillam.